A WIRRAL boxing club has told of how it has “bounced back” after a former convicted coach stole £30,000 of its funds.

Willaston Amateur Boxing Club based on Grange Road in Birkenhead was left with just £6 in their bank account after a volunteer ripped the club off.

A court heard on July 5 how Martin Lavery, who had been asked to take financial charge and was sole custodian of the bank card of the club, took out loans including Covid grants, to finance his drink and gambling addictions.

Wirral Globe: Willaston Amateur Boxing Club based on Grange Road in Birkenhead was left with just £6 in their bank account after a volunteer ripped the club offWillaston Amateur Boxing Club based on Grange Road in Birkenhead was left with just £6 in their bank account after a volunteer ripped the club off (Image: Willaston ABC)

Although no official roles were appointed, he registered himself as chairman, treasurer and secretary of Willaston Amateur Boxing Club on an England Boxing online portal.

READ: Coach jailed after ripping off Wirral boxing club for £30,000

Head coach of Willaston ABC, Joe Campbell, told the Globe: “We should normally have around £4,000-£5,000 in our account so when I went into the bank and asked for a balance and was told it was only £6, I was shocked.

“The £30,000 that he took was a mix of the loans he was getting and the kids subs. He could have been a hero and turned the gym around. There’s so much work that needs doing our gym is not exactly the ritz it’s a bit tattered and old so we could really have done with the money in there.”

Wirral Globe: “We came together as a community and showed that we were not going to roll over and die.”“We came together as a community and showed that we were not going to roll over and die.” (Image: Willaston ABC)

Joe alongside other coaches and volunteers the club came together after the set back to come up with a plan on how to save the gym.

Joe said: “From then on it just spiralled. We got loads more kids in, set up boxing shows and started pushing more.

“I think it gave everyone a bit of a kick we decided we wanted to push through and do something about it.

“We came together as a community and showed that we were not going to roll over and die.”

Wirral Globe: Boxers standing outside Willaston ABCBoxers standing outside Willaston ABC (Image: Willaston ABC)

Since the club has worked to build funds back up, they have repainted and upgraded the gym however Joe said they have faced further setbacks along the way.

Joe said: “Willaston ABC was one of the top gyms around and the longest serving gym and it feels great to have kept it going through difficult times, but we are not through the worst yet.

"Two years on and we are still struggling to pay off a £1,200 water bill that was never paid and fix dodgy plumbing which flooded our whole gym from Martin’s mess before he left. It was like he came back to haunt us.”

Wirral Globe: Head coach of Willaston ABC, Joe Campbell, began boxing at the gym when he was 12-years-oldHead coach of Willaston ABC, Joe Campbell, began boxing at the gym when he was 12-years-old (Image: Willaston ABC)

Joe, 37, has boxed at Willaston ABC since he was 12 years old before becoming a coach 11 years ago.

He said: “It’s like a little family when we are together it’s how we make it work and look after all the kids. In boxing, it’s more than just being a coach you get emotionally attached. Willaston is one of the oldest gyms in Merseyside and we don’t want that to ever die.”

The club has since hosted charity fun runs, competed in more than 50 contests, hosted skill shows, and won national championship titles in a bid to keep the gym going.

Joe said: “It’s been a very busy two years and it’s not been easy but it’s a massive part of my life and I love it.”